Prantadeshe Bangla (Bengali in Border Areas of Bengal)

Looking into the Bengali literary practices under royal patronage in the borders areas of Bengal was published in 2006. Publisher: Parul Prakashani, Agartala, Akhaura Road; No. of pages: 136; Price: Rs. 80/-; Cover design: Shibendu Sarkar.

Literary practice in Bengal has been in vogue for long in border states of Bengal like - Arakan, Chittagong, Tripura, Jayantia, Kachar and Cooch Behar. From Arakan to Cooch Behar, once literature found its way in the border areas through the feather of birds. In Arakan where once the king used to select girls with the scent of their underwear for his entertainment, came a time when royal patronage led to the birth of ageless poetic literature 'Padmabati'. The king of Kamata brutally killed the son of the minister who had an affair with the queen. Bengali literature flourished once at the court of that king also. The Mahabharata was composed in Bengali under the patronage of the Pathan rulers of Chittagong. 'Rajmala' composed in Bengali at the court of Tripura has been a glorious example of historical literature. About 300 years ago Brihannardiya Purana was translated into Bengali in Kachar. The king of Jayantia who was dethroned for practicing human sacrifice, also practiced literature in Bengali. Bengali language was not only used for literary practice at the royal court but also used in administrative works in the border states of Bengal. States like Ahom and Cooch had their communication through letters in Bengali. Bengali was the court language of Khasi state also. The history of significance of Bengali in the border states of Bengal has been made available in a smooth style in this book.

Newspaper Reports

Syandan Patrika, February 5, 2006, Agartala: "......Prantadeshe Bangla', by Pannalal Roy can be termed as an exemplary amalgamation of literature and politics in the light of history. The chronological study on the practice of Bengali in the border states like Arakan, Chittagong, Tripura, Kachar, Jayantia, Cooch Behar for long reasserts the fact that Bengali and the Bengali speaking people are not new in these regions. Bengali existed there for hundreds of years and the Bengali speaking people were also there....As though 'Prantadeshe Bangla' reminds us of the history and heritage associated with it....In the context of contemporary happenings in the North-East Mr. Roy's 'Prantadeshe Bangla' will definitely throw a new light into this and will prove a significant document..."

Saptahik Bartaman, June 10, 2006, Kolkata-105: ".....In the book, the author has discussed the patronization provided to Bengali language by the royal families of Arakan, Tripura, Dimacha, Cooch Behar, Chittagong and Jayantia at length. The articles on use and practice of Bengali literature in the courts will be valuable resource for the researchers. ...Practice of Bengali language in the border states of Bengal is the main theme of Pannalal Roy's book. Profound information and suitable explanation have made the book worth collecting".

Dainik Statesman, September 17, 2006, Kolkata: "....Each chapter has a nice story to begin with. That has helped presenting history with interesting taste. In ancient greater Bengal, Kamata or Coorch Behar was situated in the north; Tripura in the east and Assam and Chittagong in the south. It is known that in the courts of these states Sanskrit literature was in vogue but Bengali was the main court language for administration and literary practices....From the point of view of a general reader also this book can be treated as an asset for the researchers and readers".